So that the cherry laurel forms an impenetrable privacy screen in the garden, which is also nice and dense in the lower area, you have to pay attention to a few things when cutting. Even older and bare bushes grow back bushy with the right care measures and will soon be a magnificent green garden decoration again.
How do I make my cherry laurel thicker?
To make the cherry laurel denser, cut back all new shoots by half in the spring after flowering, make sure the cut points outwards and taper the hedge upwards. For older bushes, thin out the interior and improve the soil if necessary.
Pruning in spring ensures strong new growth
The right time for the first cut is spring, when the white flower umbels of the laurel cherry have just bloomed. So that the hedge grows nice and dense, you should shorten all new shoots that you can see on the green wood to about half.
Cut about two centimeters above a pair of leaves. When pruning, make sure to always shorten the branch above an outward-facing eye. This promotes the dense growth of the bushes.
It is also important to trim the hedge so that it tapers towards the top. This means more light gets inside and the lower shoots are not shaded by those above them. This care measure ensures dense growth in the lower area.
Thinning out older bushes
In July or August you can cut out some shoots from the inside of the bushes on older laurel cherries. This rejuvenates the tree without you having to put the cherry laurel back all the way down to the trunk. The regrowing young branches prevent the bushes from becoming undesirable in the lower area.
Targeted soil improvement promotes growth
Cherry laurel is one of the most robust garden trees that quickly form dense hedges. If the row of bushes only grows a few centimeters a year and does not become compact, this could be due to soil compaction and/or waterlogging. The cherry laurel reacts very sensitively to both conditions, which are typical for heavy loamy or clay soils.
How to remedy this:
- Loosen the soil around the bushes with a spade.
- Work coarse sand and compost into the soil.
- If desired, you can use this opportunity to add horn shavings (€52.00 on Amazon) or another long-term fertilizer.
Tips & Tricks
So that the cherry laurel hedge stays nice and dense, it is also important to avoid frost damage. In harsh areas you should only plant winter-hardy species and also give young plants adequate winter protection.